UPDATE: Mercedes-Benz was smashed up by teenagers in Newbridge as a result of feud, Kildare gardaí claim

Naas District Court was told on Thursday, March 2, that a car which was damaged by two juveniles was the result of an alleged feud between two families.

Last year, the court heard that the teenage boy and his brother, the latter of whom was not present in court on the day, had allegedly smashed up the Mercedes-Benz car using an iron bar and a weed-cutting tool, while the car was at a filling station in Newbridge on a date in May of 2021.

The motive for the alleged offence was not disclosed by gardaí on the first court date.

In addition, gardaí told Judge Desmond Zaidan that the cost of damage to the car was an estimated €12,500.

The younger brother appeared in court with his mother on the latest date for the execution of a bench warrant against him, while the older brother did not turn up.

Gardaí granted bail on a number of conditions for the boy present in court: these included that he must reside at his mother's address (which is located outside of County Kildare), he must stay out of Kildare except for court appearances, and his mother must provide her phone number to gardaí and be contactable at all times.

Judge Zaidan adjourned the case to May 18, to allow time for a potential Section 75 application and to allow time for the older brother to come back to Ireland as he has been staying abroad.

According to the Children Act, 2001, Section 75 (1) reads as follows: "Subject to subsection (3), the Court may deal summarily with a child charged with any indictable offence, other than an offence which is required to be tried by the Central Criminal Court or manslaughter, unless the Court is of opinion that the offence does not constitute a minor offence fit to be tried summarily or, where the child wishes to plead guilty, to be dealt with summarily."

He also remanded the juvenile who was present in court on continuing bail until this date.